Presence of melatonin in various cat brainstem nuclei determined by radioimmunoassay

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Abstract
Microdissected samples of juvenile cat brain tissue were assayed for melatonin content using a double antibody radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactive melatonin was consistently detected (although in variable amounts) in pineal, habenula, the region of the nucleus gracilis, gigantocellular reticular formation of the pons, and medulla oblongata. Among the negative areas were raphe nuclei, substantia nigra and locus caeruleus. Apparently, melatonin may play a role in some structures of the CNS outside the pineal-hypothalamo-pituitary axis. This immunoreactive melatonin could reflect a local synthesis, or a tissular uptake of melatonin from blood or CSF.